IMC011 Semantics and Domain Theory Spring 2017

Teacher

Herman Geuvers: home page

Introduction

Denotational Semantics is about assigning a mathematical meaning to syntax (in particular, that of programming languages) which is, in some sense, independent of how the syntax is presented, or what computational rules it may obey (which are properly the subject matter of Operational Semantics).

Domain Theory is the mathematics of the objects, sets-with-structure, and mappings between them, which serve as a vehicle for denotational semantics.

Material

  1. Lecture Notes on Denotational Semantics by Andy Pitts and Glynn Winskel, abbreviated to DENS for now. (Available via internet: PDF file)
  2. Grondslagen van de Informatica 2 course notes by Erik Barendsen, August 1988, abbreviated to GI2 for now
  3. Selected sections from From computation to foundations via functions and application: The lambda-calculus and its webbed models by Chantal Berline, Theoretical Computer Science 249 (2000) pp. 81-161.

Fresh up material for those who haven't followed Semantiek en Correctheid or have forgotten some of that:

  1. Material on operational semantics can be found in Hanne Riis Nielson en Flemming Nielson: Semantics with applications, Wiley 1999 (freely available).
  2. For a recap of lambda calculus, here is a set of selected pages from Introduction to Lambda Calculus by Barendregt and Barendsen. As exercises you may try 2.5 -- 2.10.

Further reading material:

  1. Ch. 3.1 and 3.2 of Domains and Lambda Calculi by Roberto Amadio and Pierre-Louis Curien, Cambridge University Press, 1998, pp: 484
  2. Ch. 13 of Formal Semantics of Programming Languages by Glynn Winskel, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1993.
  3. Ch. 2 and Ch. 8 until page 260 of Semantics of Programming Languages: Structures and Techniques, by Carl Gunter, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1992.

Structure

The course is divided roughly into 3 parts:

Examination

There is a written exam, which is "open book", so you can take the course notes and your own notes to the exam. Apart from that there is a small assignment, where you are required to apply your knowledge on denotational semantics to a concrete programming language or programming concept. (Of your own choice.) This will be explained in week 16. This should result in a short note (max 10 pages). See the assignment explanation. The deadline for the assignment is June 1/6

The final grade is 3/4 of your written exam grade + 1/4 of your assignment grade.

Set up

The course consists of 2 hours hoorcollege Wednesday, 15:45--17:30 in HG01.057, plus "self study" and a "werkcollege" (exercise class) on Friday, 10:45--11:30 in HG01.029.

Look below for updated information on the weekly schedule!

The course by week

The following is the weekly schedule. Every lecture on Wednesday is followed by an exercise class on Friday, 10:45-11:30.
Year-week Order Date and Location Material Exercises
5 No lectures
6 1 8/2, HG01.057 Chapter 1 of DENS and notes exercises, 10/2, HG01.029
7 2 15/2, HG01.057 Chapter 1 of DENS exercises, 17/2, HG01.029
8 3 22/2, HG01.057 Section 2.1 of DENS exercises, 24/2, HG00.108
9 Carnaval week, No lectures
10 4 8/3, HG01.057 Chapter 2-3 of DENS until Section 3.2 (p. 23) exercises, 10/3, HG01.029
11 5 15/3, HG01.057 Section 3.2, 3.3, Chapter 4 of DENS until slide 21 exercises, 17/3, HG01.029
12 6 22/3, HG01.057 Chapter 4 of DENS until page 36 exercises, 24/3, HG01.029
13 7 29/3, HG01:057 Chapter 5 of DENS, until page 45 exercises, 31/3, HG01.057
14 8 5/4, HG01:057 end of Chapter 5 + Chapter 6 of DENS until page 54 exercises, 7/4, HG01.057
15 9 12/4, HG01:057 end of Chapter 6 + Chapter 7 (not everything) of DENS exercises, no lecture 14/4 because of "goede vrijdag"
16 10 19/4, HG01:057 Chapter 8 of DENS + presentation of assignment exercises, 21/4, HG01.029
17 No lectures, Work on assignment
18 No lectures, Work on assignment
19 11 10/5, HG01:057 Stable models: notes and exercises exercises, 12/5, HG01.029
20 12 17/5, HG01.057 Stable models continued: notes and exercises exercises, 19/5, HG01.029
21 13 24/5, HG03.054 The notes of Berline exercises, no lecture 26/5 because of "hemelvaartsdag" on Thursday
22 I am at a conference, No lectures
23 14 7/6, HG01.057 Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 of GI2 exercises, 9/6, HG01.029
24 15 14/6, HG01:057 Chapter 4 of GI2 exercises, 16/6, HG01.029
25 20/6, 16:00-17:00, HG01:029 Question hour Here is a Test Exam and the handwritten answers to Test Exam.
25 21/6, 12:30-15:30, HG00.108 EXAM

Written Exam

The written exam is "open book", so you can take the course notes and your own notes to the exam. Dates:

The deadline for the assignment is 1/6

The final grade is 3/4 of your written exam grade + 1/4 of your assignment grade.

herman at cs dot ru dot nl